ABERDEEN manager Derek McInnes believes his team have the swagger needed to conquer Celtic in the Betfred Cup Final.

The Dons will need to end their Hampden opponents’ unbeaten domestic record under Brendan Rodgers if they are to add to their 2014 League Cup triumph.

But McInnes feels he has the players to rise to the big occasion on Sunday.

He said: “I’m confident we have real good top performers in our team, and that we have some match-winners come Sunday – and the players recognise they have as well.

“I see them every day and I see how dedicated and committed they are that we come back to Aberdeen really pleased with our performance and with winner’s medals in our pockets.

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Derek McInnes is confident his players can beat Celtic on Sunday

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Brendan Rodgers will be hoping to add his first piece of silverware at Celtic

“The players we have here at the minute have more confidence, more swagger and more international and big-game experience players than we did going into the last cup final.”

Aberdeen went into that 2014 showpiece as favourites against Inverness and were under pressure to end a 19-year wait for a trophy.

But McInnes feels his players have put demands on themselves to bring more silverware to Pittodrie.

“For so many reasons we had to win,” he said of their penalty shootout triumph. “There was that added expectation, but we dealt with that.

“This is where our players want to be. I speak to them when I sign them, when I re-sign them. They all are at Aberdeen to win trophies and kick on in their careers. Sunday is a chance for them to show that and put Aberdeen in that position to win a trophy.”

The Dons have suffered two defeats against Celtic already this season and sit 10 points adrift in the league, but McInnes wants his team to show the gulf in quality isn’t insurmountable.

He said: “It’s clear there have been improvements at Celtic. Their league form last season was good and they only lost three games, twice against us, but if they continue in a similar vein they are going to be out of sight.

“But every team is beatable and we certainly feel we are closer to them than maybe some people think.

“It is important we don’t think we are just hoping Celtic don’t play well. We have to concentrate on our job. We have to play well, but we have to have a real confidence and belief in our own ability that we can go and win the thing.”